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From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Sign Language Introduction
Message-ID: <18607@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 11 Apr 91 04:40:11 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 CP>   the program i was thinking about could be written on a NeXT
 CP>  machine with a video grabber in a few days, with compilation
 CP>  of the database inside a week or two (incorporating several
 CP>  THOUSAND signs/concepts/phrases)...

A really interesting concept, Caren.  But, at least for the present,
you would be addressing a miniscule market with a NeXT.  And could
the videograbber deal with the animation so necessary with much of
ASL?  Or would it be limited to freezeframe?  (I'm asking - I don't
know.)

 CP>  a 386 with VGA could do the same job, with different software,
 CP>  of course, in months... why?  because the databases aren't
 CP>  readily available to handle video images without massive amounts
 CP>  of disk space,

Hmmm. Why not optical disks for the media.  The user wouldn't need to
write to them.  But they would probably be too slow.

 CP>  and video resolutions of 1024x768 aren't affordable yet

Wouldn't standard VGA resolution be adequate?  Would you need 1024x768?
And it's getting more affordable all the time.

 CP>  i'm hoping to be ready with something LIKE sign friends that
 CP>  uses the technology available when it becomes price-competitive

Like I told Fran, I can hardly wait to see SignFriends 2001 in full
living color 3-D animation on the new holographic monitor on my dream
machine!  But I think Fran has done a truly remarkable job, with the
organization of her program, the stylized graphics and animation, and
keeping it all within bounds of affordable hardware that is accessible
to most everyone.

... Carpe Diem!

--
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